NASA has unveiled the spacesuit that its astronauts will use during their historic mission to the moon in 2021. The spacesuits, officially referred to as Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), are designed to provide maximum protection to the astronauts while travelling around the moon’s surface. This is the first major design update to the spacesuit since the Apollo missions in 1969 and 1973.
The new EMU is equipped with a backpack-like design for carrying oxygen and temperature control, several cameras for recording film footage of the moon’s surface, and advanced communications systems and sensors that will allow the astronauts to send and receive data from Earth and other spacecraft.
NASA’s Return to the Moon
NASA is planning a historic return to the moon with the Artemis Mission in 2021. The mission will send two astronauts – one man, and one woman – to the moon’s surface for up to seven days. They will be the first humans to set foot on the moon since the last Apollo mission in 1972.
In order to make this trip possible, NASA has been hard at work on the spacecraft and suits that they will use to make the trip. The Artemis mission will include a variety of cutting-edge technology, such as the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion crew capsule, and the spacesuits that have now been unveiled.
NASA Calls Forth Private Sector Innovation
NASA has worked with companies in the private sector and academic institutions to design and build the EMU suits. The agency has also called upon the public to submit their own novel designs for the suits. The agency recently announced the winners of the “Moon to Mars 60-Day Suit Design Challenge”, which called for entrants to design advanced EMU suits.
The finalists were Peopleworx and Draper, who developed their suits with advanced technologies such as thermal control systems, ultra-lightweight composites, and integrated communications systems. The winning design will be modified and tested further before the Artemis mission in 2021.
Design of the EMU Spacesuit
The EMU is an adaptation of the A7L spacesuit that was used in the Apollo missions of 1969 and 1973. The new EMU is made of comfortable and lightweight fabric and is designed with mobility, dexterity, and comfort in mind.
Features of the EMU suit include:
• A suit-like design that has a cooling system that can keep the astronaut at a comfortable 47.8°F (8.8°C)
• A robust outer layer that can protect the astronauts from micrometeoroids
• Highly advanced communications and control systems that allow the astronauts to talk to ground control and other spacecraft
• A number of sensors and cameras to enable the astronauts to take photos and videos of their exploration
• A flexible glove system that will provide the astronauts with more dexterity
• An escape system that can allow the astronauts to escape if their spacecraft fails
• A metal leg for walking on the moon’s surface
• A Zero-Gravity Foot Locker for packing personal items during the mission
The EMU spacesuit marks a significant step in academics, technology and innovation that are necessary for mankind to explore space. The EMU’s design will ensure the utmost protection and comfort to the astronauts on the 2021 mission to the moon. It will also provide us with an opportunity to explore new tools and features that are necessary for human exploration of other planets.
The astronauts who embark on the Artemis mission in 2021 will be the first humans to experience this new EMU suit. They will be a part of a monumental step forward in space exploration, and the EMU will ensure their safety and protection during this momentous endeavor.
